Image processing apparatus, method of controlling the same, and storage medium

ABSTRACT

An image processing apparatus which makes it possible to realize easy accessing of registered information of any function and provide a user interface having high operability. The image processing apparatus stores setting information configured via an operating section and access information for use in accessing the setting information in association with each other. Further, the image processing apparatus stores the setting information and button information in association with each other. The button information is displayed on a touch panel in a user selectable form. When an item of the button information displayed on the touch panel is selected by a user, a portal application detects the access information associated with the selected button information item. The setting information is acquired based on the detected access information. The image processing apparatus performs image processing based on the acquired setting information.

This application is a continuation of and claims the benefit of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 12/614,874, filed Nov. 9, 2009, the contentof which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.This application and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/614,874 claimpriority to JP Application No. 2008-287768, filed Nov. 10, 2008.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus and amethod of controlling the same, and more particularly to an imageprocessing apparatus which enables a user to easily configure settingsfor the apparatus and a method of controlling the image processingapparatus.

Description of the Related Art

Recent image processing apparatuses have been becoming more and moresophisticated and more multifunctional, and therefore there is a userneed for quick accessing of functions that are frequently used and foreasy configuration of settings. For this reason, there hasconventionally been proposed a technique in which function-assigned keys(short-cut keys) that are assigned desired functions and configurationprocesses, respectively, are displayed on a display section, and when auser selects one of the keys, an associated function or setting isreflected (see e.g. Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No.2002-132100).

In the above-mentioned conventional technique using short-cut keys(hereinafter referred to as “the short-cut function”), the data formatof the functions and the settings is required to conform to a formatthat enables the functions and the settings to be stored in associationwith the short-cut keys, since an image processing apparatus storesfunctions and settings in association with respective short-cut keys.

On the other hand, the number of functions operable from an imageprocessing apparatus can be increased by installing an applicationequipped with the desired functions. However, unless the data format ofthe functions in the application is adapted to the short-cut function,the functions and settings in the application cannot be associated withthe respective short-cut keys, and hence it is impossible to use theshort-cut function. To solve this problem, there has been proposed amethod in which application-specific scripts are generated and each ofthe scripts is parsed by the short-cut function to thereby execute dataof functions in the application.

However, in the conventional method, it is required to provide parsersassociated with the respective scripts, and it takes time to parse ascript.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an image processing apparatus which makesit possible to realize easy accessing of registered information of anyfunction and provide a user interface having high operability, a methodof controlling the image processing apparatus, and a storage mediumstoring a program for implementing the method.

In a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an imageprocessing apparatus including an operation unit and a display unit,comprising a first storage unit configured to store setting informationconfigured via the operation unit and access information for use inaccessing the setting information in association with each other, asecond storage unit configured to store the access information andbutton information in association with each other, a display controlunit configured to display the button information on the display unit ina user selectable form, an access information-detecting unit configuredto be operable when the button information displayed on the display unitis selected by a user, to detect the access information associated withthe button information in the second storage unit, a setting informationacquisition unit configured to acquire the setting informationassociated with the access information from the first storage unit,based on the access information detected by the accessinformation-detecting unit, and an execution unit configured to executeimage processing based on the setting information acquired by thesetting information acquisition unit.

In a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a methodof controlling an image processing apparatus including an operation unitand a display unit, comprising storing setting information configuredvia the operation unit and access information for use in accessing thesetting information in a first storage unit in association with eachother, storing the access information and button information in a secondstorage unit in association with each other, displaying the buttoninformation on the display unit in a user selectable form, detecting,when the button information displayed on the display unit is selected bya user, the access information associated with the button information inthe second storage unit, acquiring the setting information associatedwith the access information from the first storage unit, based on thedetected access information, and performing image processing based onthe acquired setting information.

In a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a storagemedium storing a computer-readable program for causing a computer toexecute a method of controlling an image processing apparatus includingan operation unit and a display unit, wherein the method comprisesstoring setting information configured via the operation unit and accessinformation for use in accessing the setting information in a firststorage unit in association with each other, storing the accessinformation and button information in a second storage unit inassociation with each other, displaying the button information on thedisplay unit in a user selectable form, detecting, when the buttoninformation displayed on the display unit is selected by a user, theaccess information associated with the button information in the secondstorage unit, acquiring the setting information associated with theaccess information from the first storage unit, based on the detectedaccess information, and performing image processing based on theacquired setting information.

According to the present invention, it is possible to realize easyaccessing of registered information of any function. Further, since itis not required to parse a script or the like, accessing can beperformed at a high speed. Furthermore, the present invention makes itpossible to provide a user interface having high operability.

Further features of the present invention will become apparent from thefollowing description of embodiments (with reference to the attacheddrawings).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an image processing apparatus according toan embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram of data and software configuration for displayingthe functions and settings of applications to be installed in the imageprocessing apparatus in FIG. 1, on an operating section thereof.

FIG. 3 is a view of an example of a screen displayed on a touch panel ofthe operating section.

FIG. 4 is a view of an example of a copy initial screen.

FIG. 5 is a view of an example of a portal initial screen.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a registration-to-portal process.

FIG. 7 is a view of an example of a magnification setting screendisplayed by a copy application.

FIG. 8 is a view of an example of a menu list displayed by the copyapplication.

FIG. 9 is a view of an example of a confirmation dialog displayed by thecopy application.

FIG. 10 is a view of an example of a registration-to-portal screen.

FIG. 11 is a diagram of an example of table information stored in astorage area for a portal application in a HDD.

FIG. 12 is a diagram of an example of table information stored in astorage area for a copy application in the HDD.

FIG. 13 is a view of an example of the portal initial screen in which aportal button 4 is registered.

FIG. 14 is a diagram of an example of table information stored in thestorage area for the portal application before registration of theportal button 4.

FIG. 15 is a view illustrating an example of how a display screen isswitched by pressing of a portal button.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart of a process executed by an accessing andreproducing function when the portal button 4 is pressed.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart of a process executed by the copy applicationwhen a portal button is pressed.

FIG. 18 is a diagram of another example of table information stored inthe storage area for the copy application in the HDD.

FIG. 19 is a view of an example of the portal initial screen with a menulist displayed thereon by pressing of a menu button.

FIG. 20 is a view of an example of a portal button edit/delete screen.

FIG. 21 is a view of an example of a portal button edit screen.

FIG. 22 is a view of an example of a confirmation dialog displayed onthe portal button edit/delete screen.

FIG. 23 is a flowchart of a process executed for deletion of the portalbutton 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

The present invention will now be described in detail below withreference to the accompanying drawings showing embodiments thereof.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an image processing apparatus according toan embodiment of the present invention.

The image processing apparatus shown in FIG. 1 is basically comprised ofa controller unit 100 for controlling the overall operation of the imageprocessing apparatus, an operating section 112, a scanner section 123,and a printer section 125. The operating section 112 is comprised ofhard keys including ten keys used to enter numerals, for example, and astart key used to start processing, and a liquid crystal touch panel,and provides user interface for an user to operate the image processingapparatus. A user can input settings or information to the imageprocessing apparatus by touching (pressing) icons or buttons displayedon the touch panel of the operating section 112 for representingrespective setting items (or by pressing hard keys).

The scanner section 123 reads an image e.g. from an original, as imagedata. The printer section 125 conveys a recording sheet and prints imagedata on the recording sheet, as a visualized image.

The controller unit 100 is connected to the scanner section 123 via abus 122 and is connected to the printer section 125 via a bus 124.Further, the controller unit 100 is connected to other devices orapparatuses via a LAN 113, a public communication line (WAN) 114, and awireless 115, and controls input and output of image information anddevice information.

A CPU 101 is a controller for controlling the whole system of the imageprocessing apparatus. A RAM 102 is a system work memory used foroperation of the CPU 101. The RAM 102 also functions as an image memoryfor temporarily storing image data. A ROM 103 is a boot ROM that storesa boot program for the system. An HDD (hard disk drive) 104 storessystem software, image data, and information (specifications forwireless communication) on all wireless communications of acommunication section 111, referred to hereinafter.

The user can install applications equipped with desired functions in theimage processing apparatus to thereby increase the number of functionsprovided for the image processing apparatus. The installation of anapplication causes an application program to be stored in the RAM 102 orthe HDD 104, for operating associated functions on the image processingapparatus.

An operating section interface (I/F) 106 provides interface for theoperating section 112, which is the user interface (UI), and outputsdata to the operating section 112 so as to cause the data to bedisplayed thereon. The operating section interface 106 also plays therole of transferring information input by the user via the operatingsection 112 to the CPU 101. A network section 109 is connected to theLAN 113, for input and output of information. A modem 110 is connectedto the public communication line 114, for input and output ofinformation.

The communication section 111 is connected to the wireless 115 via anantenna, not shown, for input and output of information. Further, thecommunication section 111 is capable of performing a plurality of typesof wireless communications. The above-mentioned devices are connected toa system bus 107.

An image bus interface (I/F) 105 is a bus bridge which connects thesystem bus 107 to an image bus 108 for use in high-speed transfer ofimage data, and performs data structure conversion. The image bus 108 isimplemented e.g. by a PCI bus or an IEEE 1394.

As one of devices connected to the image bus 108, there is provided araster image processor (RIP) 116 which expands PDL data into a bitmapimage. A device interface (I/F) 117 connects the scanner section 123 andthe printer section 125 to the controller unit 100, and performssynchronous-to-asynchronous or asynchronous-to-synchronous conversion ofimage data.

A scanner image processor 118 performs correction, processing, andediting of input image data. A printer image processor 119 performscorrection, resolution conversion, etc. on image data to be printed out,so as to make the image data conformable to the printer section 125. Animage rotation section 120 rotates image data. An image processor 121performs compression/expansion of JPEG, JBIG, MMR, MH, etc. and formatconversion processing for PDF, TIFF, OCR, encryption, etc. on imagedata.

Next, a description will be given, with reference to FIG. 2, of asoftware configuration for displaying on the operating section 112 thefunctions and settings of applications installed in the image processingapparatus in FIG. 1.

FIG. 2 is a diagram of data and a software configuration for displayingon the operating section 112 the functions and settings of applicationsinstalled in the image processing apparatus in FIG. 1.

Applications installed in the image processing apparatus include a copyapplication 2303 having functions related to copy operation, a sendapplication 2305 having functions related to send operation fortransmission/reception of document data, and a portal application 2307having functions related to a portal. These applications are directlyinstalled in the image processing apparatus by the user, but they may beinstalled in the image processing apparatus e.g. via the network section109 or the communication section 111. Each installed application isstored as an application program in the RAM 102 or the HDD 104.

The copy application 2303 and other applications installed in the imageprocessing apparatus in FIG. 1 are each caused to operate independentlyby an instruction from the CPU 101. To this end, data items to be usedby the applications are stored in the HDD 104 in a manner classifiedinto application-specific groups. Data shared by the applications isstored as common data in a common data section 2302 set in the HDD 104.

Further, each of the applications installed in the image processingapparatus in FIG. 1 is assigned an application ID for identifying theapplication. This application ID is stored as common data in the commondata section 2302. In the present embodiment, it is assumed, forexample, that an application ID assigned to the copy application 2303 is“100”, an application ID assigned to the send application 2305 is “101”,and an application ID assigned to the portal application 2307 is “102”.

A window controller 2301 determines which of the applications installedin the image processing apparatus is to be displayed on the operatingsection 112. Data items, such as screen resources and settings, of eachof the applications including the copy application 2303 installed in theimage processing apparatus are acquired from the HDD 104 and aredisplayed in response to a command from the window controller 2301. Forexample, upon reception of a request for displaying the copy application2303 (application ID “100”), the window controller 2301 determineswhether or not it is possible to perform display by a function of thecopy application 2303. If it is possible to perform the display, thewindow controller 2301 sends a display command to the copy application2303. When there exists setting data for the display, the setting datais also sent together with the display command. The copy application2303 having received the display command acquires screen resources andsettings from a copy data section 2304 set in the HDD 104 and displaysthese on the operating section 112.

On the other hand, when data to be displayed is not stored in the copydata section 2304, the copy application 2303 sends a data request to thewindow controller 2301. Upon reception of this data request, the windowcontroller 2301 acquires associated data from the common data section2302 set in the HDD 104, and sends the acquired data to the copyapplication 2303. Thus, the copy application 2303 displays the receiveddata.

The send application 2305 is capable of transmitting and receivingsend-related data to and from a send data section 2306 set in the HDD104. Similarly, the portal application 2307 is capable of transmittingand receiving portal-related data to and from a portal data section 2308set in the HDD 104.

Although in the present embodiment, the image processing apparatus inFIG. 1 is equipped with three kinds of applications, i.e. the copyapplication, the send application, and the portal application, it may beequipped with other applications.

FIG. 3 is a view of an example of a screen displayed on the touch panelof the operating section 112.

The screen displayed on the touch panel of the operating section 112 iscomprised of a common area 201 where contents common to all screens aredisplayed, and a function area 202 where screen-specific contents aredisplayed, as illustrated in a top screen 300 shown in FIG. 3. The topscreen 300 is initially displayed when the image processing apparatusbecomes operable after the power is turned on.

The common area 201 is comprised of a title bar 203 explaining acurrently displayed screen, and a menu button 204 for displaying a menufor use in registering settings or configuring functions in accordancewith the currently displayed screen. In the function area 202, there aredisplayed application buttons each used to switch the top screen 300 toa screen for using an application associated with the button, such asthe copy application or the send application. In the present embodiment,a copy application button 205, a send application button 207, and aportal application button 206 are displayed as the application buttons.When a new application is installed in the image processing apparatus,an application button associated with the new application is displayedin the function area 202 on the top screen 300.

The menu button 204 is used to display a menu for use in registeringsettings or configuring functions in accordance with the currentlydisplayed screen. When the menu button 204 is pressed, a menu list 701,described hereinafter with reference to FIG. 8, is displayed. Contentsto be displayed in the menu list 701 and an internal process executed byselecting one of the contents are defined by each application on ascreen-by-screen basis, and the defined contents are stored in the HDD104 in association with the respective screens. It should be noted thatwhen there is no content to be displayed in the menu list, the menubutton 204 is grayed out to thereby disable user selection.

In the present embodiment, it is assumed that each of the applicationsexcept the portal application 2307 unexceptionally defines a menu item“registration-to-portal” to be displayed in the menu list 701, asillustrated in FIG. 8 and a process (registration-to-portal process)associated therewith.

The user can configure various settings on the operating section 112.The settings include, for example, the number of copies, which is inputby the user, whether to display an error state during image formation,and book-binding and printing settings determined by a combination of aplurality of configuration operations (these various settings will behereinafter generically referred to as “settings related to imageformation”).

The portal application 2307 has a function of storing settings relatedto image formation as setting information, and accessing and reproducingthe stored setting information in response to a user request (thisfunction will be hereinafter referred to as “the accessing andreproducing function”), and a changing/deleting function for changing ordeleting stored settings. These functions will be described in detailhereinafter.

In the present embodiment, it is assumed that information items(coordinates, fonts, image resources, default settings, etc.) displayedby each application on an associated screen are all stored in one of theRAM 102, the ROM 103, and the HDD 104. Information items to be displayedon each screen are determined according to the status of the imageprocessing apparatus under the control of the window controller 2301,and then the information items stored in the HDD 104 (or the RAM 102 orthe ROM 103) are displayed on the operating section 112 via theoperating section interface 106.

When the copy application button 205 is pressed on the top screen 300shown in FIG. 3, the top screen 300 is switched to a copy initial screen400 shown in FIG. 4. On the copy initial screen 400, a magnificationsetting button 301 for setting a magnification, a double-sidedcopy-setting button 302 for setting double-sided copy, a settingconfirmation key 304 for confirming settings configured in the entirecopy application, and so forth are displayed in the function area 202.When one of these buttons is pressed, the copy initial screen 400 isswitched to an associated configuration screen for configuringcopy-related settings, whereby the user is enabled to change thesettings.

As for fundamental functions (e.g. magnification) generally used forcopying, not only a configuration button but also an associatedconfigured setting is displayed. For example, when a magnification isset, a configured setting (e.g. “100%”) is displayed in a setmagnification area 303 of the magnification setting button 301.

When the portal application button 206 is pressed on the top screen 300shown in FIG. 3, the top screen 300 is switched to a portal initialscreen 500 shown in FIG. 5. In the function area 202 on the portalinitial screen 500, there are displayed user selectable portal buttons401 and 407 for accessing settings related to image formation stored bythe accessing and reproducing function. The displayed portal buttonshave the same configuration. For example, the portal button 401 iscomprised of an icon 402, a button name 403, and a comment 404 on thisbutton, but this is not limitative.

Portal buttons can be displayed in a manner grouped according to a grouptype (group classification) selected by a user. When an unselected oneof a private button 405 and a shared button 406 is pressed to newlyselect the same, the screen is switched to display the other groupassociated with the newly selected button other than the currentlydisplayed group associated with the formerly selected button. In thepresent embodiment, it is assumed that the shared button 406 is pressed(selected) by default. The shared button 406 is used to display portalbuttons for common use by all users.

On the other hand, the private button 405 is used to display portalbuttons registered on a private basis. Therefore, user authentication isperformed before the top screen 300 is displayed or before the portalinitial screen 500 is displayed, and pressing of the private button 405by an unauthenticated user is disabled. The user authentication in thepresent embodiment is performed using a general method, such as passwordauthentication or human body authentication, and hence detaileddescription thereof is omitted.

Next, a description will be given of a control process for displayingthe portal initial screen based on a command for displaying the portalinitial screen.

Information for displaying portal buttons on the screen is managed andstored in the HDD 104, as table information in which button information,such as icons, button names, and comments, is associated with otherinformation items, as illustrated in FIG. 14. In the table informationshown in FIG. 14, an application ID, an action ID, icon information, andbutton information are associated with a portal button number assignedto a portal button. The icon information includes image data of bitmapformat or the like, which can be displayed as an icon, or a path to theimage data. The button information includes a button name, a comment,and a group classification. The button name is a content displayed inthe button name 403. The comment is a content displayed in the comment404. The group classification indicates whether registration wasperformed by pressing the private button 405 or by pressing the sharedbutton 406. When the private button 405 was used for registration, anassociated user ID (e.g. “user ID: 0001” appearing in FIG. 14) is alsostored in the HDD 104. As the user ID, the same user ID used for userauthentication is suitably used. This portal button can be used only byan associated registered user. On the other hand, when the shared button406 is used for registration, a portal button is registered in the HDD104 without being linked to a specific user ID. This portal button canbe shared by all users. It should be noted that an action ID will bedescribed hereinafter.

Upon detection of a display command for displaying the portal initialscreen, the CPU 101 instructs, via the window controller 2301, theportal application 2307 to perform control for displaying portalbuttons. In response to this instruction, the portal application 2307detects in the HDD 104 a group designated for display, and furtherdetects portal buttons belonging to the group. Then, the CPU 101determines application IDs which are normally operable. Subsequently,respective button information items associated with portal buttonshaving the respective application IDs normally operable, out of thedetected portal buttons, are read out from the HDD 104 and are displayedas portal buttons, respectively (display control). Thus, the portalinitial screen 500 as shown in FIG. 5 is displayed on the touch panel ofthe operating section 112.

When the portal button 401 is pressed, the portal application 2307executes a process registered in association with the portal button 401.Contents displayed when the menu button 204 is pressed will be describedhereinafter.

Next, a description will be given of the registration-to-portal processfor registering application-specific settings related to image formationas a portal button.

First, the registration-to-portal process (executed in the illustratedexample in association with the copy application) for registeringapplication-specific settings related to image formation as a portalbutton, using the accessing and reproducing function, will be describedwith reference to FIG. 6.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of the registration-to-portal process. In FIG. 6,processing executed by the copy application 2303 is illustrated on theleft side, and processing executed by the portal application 2307 on theright side, for clear distinction between the two.

In the registration-to-portal process in the present embodiment, theportal application 2307 acquires information stored in advance in theHDD 104 and user inputs and issues various execution commands using theCPU 101 based on the acquired information. The processing executed bythe copy application 2303 or the portal application 2307 is all based ondetermination by the CPU 101.

Further, when a user touches a screen on the operating section 112, theCPU 101 detects a coordinate position of the touched point on the screenand reads out a processing program associated with the detectedcoordinate position. Then, the CPU 101 executes the processing program,whereby screen switching and configuration processing are performed.Results of the processing executed in response to commands from the CPU101 are all stored in the RAM 102 or the HDD 104.

In the following, a case will be described by way of example in whichconfiguration is performed to change the magnification to “80%” and thesetting of double-sided copy to “double-sided to double-sided” and thechanged settings are registered as a portal button 4.

Upon detecting that the user has pressed the copy application button 205on the top screen 300 shown in FIG. 3, the CPU 101 switches the topscreen 300 to the copy initial screen 400 shown in FIG. 4. Then, thecopy application 2303 detects various settings configured by the userfor image formation (copying) on the copy initial screen 400 and storesthese as setting information in the HDD 104 (step S501).

Now, a description will be given of specific user operations forconfiguring the settings related to image formation.

When the magnification setting button 301 is pressed on the copy initialscreen 400, the copy initial screen 400 is switched to a magnificationsetting screen 700 shown in FIG. 7. If an 80% button 601 is pressed onthe magnification setting screen 700, a set magnification area 602 isset to display “80%”. When a close button 603 is pressed in this state,the set magnification is stored in the HDD 104, and the magnificationsetting screen 700 is switched back to the immediately preceding screen(the copy initial screen 400 in the present example).

Similarly, as for double-sided copy, when the double-sided copy-settingbutton 302 is pressed on the copy initial screen 400, the copy initialscreen 400 is switched to a double-sided copy-setting screen, not shown.The user can perform configuration of double-sided copy e.g. by setting“double-sided to double-sided” on the double-sided copy-setting screen.

Next, a description will be given of a process for registeringconfigured settings as a portal button.

First, when the copy application 2303 detects pressing of the menubutton 204, the menu list 701 is displayed on the copy initial screen400 as shown in FIG. 8 (step S502). Then, when the copy application 2303detects pressing of a “registration-to-portal” area 702 (YES to the stepS502), a registration-to-portal mode is started. On the other hand, whenthe copy application 2303 detects pressing of any of predetermined areasother than the “registration-to-portal” area 702, an associated processis executed (step S503) without starting the registration-to-portalmode, followed by terminating the present process.

When the registration-to-portal mode is started, the copy application2303 displays a confirmation dialog 801 on the copy initial screen 400as a modal dialog as illustrated in FIG. 9 (step S504) and then enters astate awaiting an input from the user (step S505). On the confirmationdialog 801 are displayed settings configured by the user (the setmagnification, the set double-sided copy, etc.), a cancel button 802,and an OK button 803.

If the copy application 2303 detects pressing of the cancel button 802during display of the confirmation dialog 801 (NO to the step S505), theregistration-to-portal mode is terminated, and the display screen isswitched back to the state before the “registration-to-portal” area 702was pressed.

On the other hand, if the copy application 2303 detects pressing of theOK button 803 (YES to the step S505), a registration request is issuedto the portal application 2307 (step S506). In this case, the copyapplication 2303 acquires from the HDD 104 its own application ID andicon information to be displayed as a portal button on the portalinitial screen, and sends these to the portal application 2307.Information on settings including a magnification is not sent.

Specifically, the copy application 2303 acquires the application ID andthe icon information from a storage area (including the common datasection 2302 and the copy data section 2304) set in the HDD 104 for thecopy application 2303. Then, the copy application 2303 sends theseinformation items to the window controller 2301. The window controller2301 transfers the information items to the portal application 2307, andthe portal application 2307 stores these in a storage area (includingthe common data section 2302 and the portal data section 2308) set inthe HDD 104 for the portal application 2307.

Upon receiving the registration request from the copy application 2303,the portal application 2307 displays a registration-to-portal screen1000, shown in FIG. 10, for registration of button information (stepS507). On the registration-to-portal screen 1000, it is possible toinput a button name and a comment to be displayed on the portal buttonand set a group classification of the portal button. In the presentembodiment, it is assumed that “reduced_double-sided copy” is input asthe button name, “magnification set to 80%, copy changed todouble-sided” is input as a comment, and the group classification of theportal button is set to “shared”, as illustrated in FIG. 10.

Then, if the portal application 2307 detects pressing of a cancel button902 on the registration-to-portal screen 1000, which indicatescancellation of the configuration (NO to a step S508), the portalapplication 2307 deletes the received application ID and the buttoninformation input and set on the registration-to-portal screen, andthereafter the process exits from the registration-to-portal mode.

Specifically, the portal application 2307 deletes the application ID andthe button information from the storage area (including the common datasection 2302 and the portal data section 2308) set in the HDD 104 forthe portal application 2307. Then, a request for displaying the copyapplication 2303 and information indicative of cancellation of theportal registration are sent to the window controller 2301.

On the other hand, if the portal application 2307 detects pressing of anOK button 901 on the registration-to-portal screen 1000, which indicatescompletion of the configuration (YES to the step S508), the portalapplication 2307 executes processing for generating a portal button,based on the settings input and configured on the registration-to-portalscreen 1000 (step S509).

In order to generate the portal button, first, the portal application2307 generates an action ID for uniquely identifying the presentregistration request (in the present embodiment, serial numbers startingfrom “1” are assigned to respective applications). Then, the portalapplication 2307 generates the portal button based on the applicationID, the action ID, the icon information, and the button information.

Specifically, the portal button is stored in the storage area set in theHDD 104 for the portal application 2307, according to table informationshown in FIG. 11, in which the application ID, the action ID, the iconinformation, and the button information are associated with each other.The table information shown in FIG. 11 is formed by adding the portalbutton 4 generated in the above-described registration process to thetable information shown in FIG. 14.

When generation of the portal button is completed, the portalapplication 2307 sends the generated action ID to the copy application2303 together with a completion notification (step S510). The copyapplication 2303 stores the received action ID (call information) in thestorage area set in the HDD 104 for the copy application 2303, inassociation with the settings configured in the step S501 (settinginformation), and terminates the registration-to-portal mode (stepS511). FIG. 12 shows an example of setting information associated withan action ID stored in the storage area set in the HDD 104 for the copyapplication 2303. In FIG. 12, each action ID is associated with iconinformation and setting information.

When the registration-to-portal mode is terminated, the copy application2303 switches the display screen back to the state before the start ofthe registration mode (step S502).

If the copy application 2303 always uses the same icon, it is notnecessary to store the action ID and icon information in associationwith each other as shown in FIG. 12.

After the table information shown in FIG.

11 is registered, if the portal initial screen is opened, a portalinitial screen 1300 shown in FIG. 13 is displayed on the operatingsection 112. In the function area 202, there are displayed the portalbutton 401 as a portal button 1, the portal button 407 as a portalbutton 3, and a portal button 1303 as a portal button 4 registered anew.The default group classification is set to “shared”, and hence in theexample shown in FIG. 13, a portal button 2 corresponding to a portalbutton No. 2 in the table information shown in FIG. 11 is not displayed.Only when the private button 405 is pressed, the portal button 2associated with an authenticated user is displayed.

By execution of the process in FIG. 6, data items of the copyapplication 2303, which are to be registered in the portal, are held bythe copy application 2303 alone, and the portal application 2307 holdsonly the action ID. In order to execute registered contents from theportal application 2307, it is only required to send an executioncommand associated with an action ID to an associated application.Therefore, the data can be registered in the portal by the same processirrespective of a data format employed by the application for managementof the data.

Although in the present embodiment, the process executed by the copyapplication 2303 is described by way of example, registration of aportal button can be similarly performed by any other applicationincluding the send application.

Next, a description will be given of error handling executed in the FIG.6 process. It is also possible to notify the user of occurrence of anerror e.g. by popping up an error dialog on the operating section 112during the occurrence of the error.

If the application ID or the icon information cannot be acquired fromthe HDD 104 in the step S506, the registration-to-portal mode isterminated, and the display screen is switched back to the state beforepressing of the “registration-to-portal” area 702.

If the information generated in the step S509 or the informationgenerated in the step S511 cannot be stored in the HDD 104 (e.g. a casewhere the user is not authorized to write in the HDD 104 or the HDD 104is full and cannot store any more data), the information is stored inthe RAM 102. When the information cannot be stored in the RAM 102,either, the registration-to-process is terminated, and the displayscreen is switched back to the state before pressing of the“registration-to-portal” area 702 (i.e. the process returns to the stepS502).

Also if communication cannot be normally performed in the step S506 orS510, the registration-to-portal process is terminated, and the displayscreen is switched back to the state before pressing of the“registration-to-portal” area 702 (i.e. the process returns to the stepS502).

Next, a description will be given of a process executed by the accessingand reproducing function when a portal button displayed on the portalinitial screen is pressed.

In the present example, it is assumed that the portal button 4 (portalbutton 1303) is pressed on the portal initial screen 1300 shown in FIG.13. In response to the pressing of the portal button 4 on the portalinitial screen by the user, the CPU 101 executes a process registered inassociation with the portal button 4 depressed by the user, to therebycause the display screen to be switched to the copy initial screen, asillustrated in FIG. 15. This process will be described with reference toFIG. 16.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart of the process executed by the accessing andreproducing function when the portal button 4 is pressed. In FIG. 16,processing executed by the called copy application 2303 is illustratedon the left side, and processing executed by the portal application 2307on the right side

The portal application 2307 detects that the portal button 4 has beenpressed on the portal initial screen 1300 (step S1501). Then, the portalapplication 2307 detects an application ID and an action ID associatedwith the portal button 4 in the HDD 104 (step S1502). At this time, theapplication ID “100” and the action ID “3” are acquired as theapplication ID and the action ID associated with the portal button 4from the FIG. 11 table information stored in the HDD 104.

Then, the portal application 2307 detects in the HDD 104 the copyapplication 2303 as an application that is to execute the process, basedon the acquired application ID, and sends the action ID as an executioncommand to the copy application 2303 (step S1503). The portalapplication 2307 thus transmits only the action ID, and thereforeirrespective of the data format of data held by an application forexecuting the process, it is possible to issue an execution command fromthe portal application.

The copy application 2303 having received the execution command from theportal application 2307 acquires setting information associated with theaction ID from the HDD 104 and executes (reflects) the settings (stepS1504). In the present embodiment, the copy application 2303 acquires“magnification: 80%” and “double-sided copy: double-sided todouble-sided” as the setting information associated with the action IDof 3, and executes the settings. A method of reflecting the acquiredsetting information will be described with reference to FIG. 17.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart of a process executed by the copy application2303 when the portal button is pressed.

First, upon reception of the execution command from the portalapplication 2307 (step S1601), the copy application 2303 acquirescopying-related default settings from the HDD 104 and resets the currentsettings to the default values (step S1602), and then the display screenis switched back to the copy initial screen (step S1603). In doing this,the copy application 2303 overwrites an associated setting informationarea in the HDD 104 with the setting information associated with theaction ID to thereby reflect the setting information on the operatingsection 112 (step S1604).

Although in the present embodiment, reflection of the settinginformation after receiving the action ID is achieved by the processshown in FIG. 17, application-specific processes may be executed whichare different from each other except that an action ID is sent from theportal application 2307 to an associated application. For example, thestep S1602 may not be carried out, and the steps S1603 and S1604 may bereplaced by a step for displaying a specific screen on which the settinginformation associated with the action ID is reflected.

Further, although in the present embodiment, the copy application 2303stores the setting information in the step S501, an operation flowconfigured by the user may be stored in place of the settinginformation. In this case, processing executed by the portal application2307 is the same as that in the process shown in FIG. 17, but settingsstored by the copy application 2303 in association with the action IDare different from those in the process in FIG. 17. For example, not thetable information shown in FIG. 12, but table information shown in FIG.18 is stored in the HDD 104. Instead of executing the step S1604 forreflection of the setting information, the copy application 2303sequentially executes a sequence of operations stored as the operationflow one by one. For example, in the case of reflecting settinginformation associated with the action ID of 3, the operation flow isexecuted by assuming that the user sequentially performs pressing of themagnification setting button, pressing of the 80% button, pressing ofthe close button, and so on. Of course, this is not limitative, but anyother content that can be executed by the copy application 2303 inresponse to an execution command (including an action ID) from theportal application 2307 can be stored in place of the settinginformation or the operation flow.

Next, a description will be given of error handling executed in the FIG.16 process. It is also possible to notify the user of occurrence of anerror e.g. by popping up an error dialog on the operating section 112during the occurrence of the error.

If the application ID or the action ID cannot be acquired in the stepS1502 or if a process associated with the action ID cannot be executed,the processing executed by the portal application 2307 is terminated,and the display screen is switched back to the portal initial screen.

Also if the application ID acquired in the step S1502 is associated withan application already deleted or suspended, the processing executed bythe portal application 2307 is terminated, and the display screen isswitched back to the portal initial screen.

Also if communication is not normally performed in the step S1503, theprocessing executed by the portal application 2307 is terminated, andthe display screen is switched back to the portal initial screen.

Next, a description will be given of processing for editing/deleting aregistered portal button.

In editing a registered portal button, first, the portal initial screenis opened, and the menu button 204 is pressed. The pressing of the menubutton 204 causes a menu list 1801 to be displayed as shown in FIG. 19.Contents to be displayed when the menu button 204 is pressed (“buttonedit/delete” in the present example) are stored in advance in the HDD104. Then, when a “button edit/delete” area 1802 is selected, the portalinitial screen 1300 is switched to a portal button edit/delete screen2000 shown in FIG. 20. On this screen, the menu button 204 is grayed outbecause nothing is registered therein.

Although in the present embodiment, to edit/delete a portal button, themenu button 204 is pressed on the portal initial screen, and then the“button edit/delete” area 1802 is selected, this is not limitative. Forexample, after completion of the processing in the step S511 in FIG. 5,the display screen may be automatically switched to the portal buttonedit/delete screen 2000.

When a portal button to be edited is selected (pressed) and an editbutton 1901 is pressed on the portal button edit/delete screen 2000, anedit mode is started. In the following, a description will be given of acase where the edit button 1901 is pressed after pressing of theregistered portal button 4.

In the edit mode, button information associated with a selected(pressed) portal button is acquired from the HDD 104, and the portalbutton edit/delete screen 2000 is switched to a portal button editscreen 2100 shown in FIG. 21, based on the acquired button information.In this case, the button information acquired from the HDD 104 is one ofthe button information items in the table information in FIG. 11, whichis associated with the portal button 4 selected by the user.

On the portal button edit screen 2100, it is possible to change (edit)contents registered as button information. In the illustrated example,it is assumed that a soft keyboard, i.e. an on-screen keyboard (notshown) is opened by pressing a button name area 2001, so as to change abutton name, and then characters “reduced_double-sided copy 2” areentered, followed by closing the soft keyboard. In this case, a contentdisplayed in the button name area 2001 is changed from“reduced_double-sided copy” to “reduced_double-sided copy 2”. Then, whenan OK button 2002 is pressed, the portal application 2307 rewrites thenew content into the HDD 104, followed by terminating the edit mode.After termination of the edit mode, the portal button edit/delete screenis displayed on which the edited content is reflected.

On the other hand, when not the OK button 2002, but a cancel button 2003is pressed, input operations performed after the start of the edit modeare all canceled, and the edit mode is terminated, displaying the portalbutton edit/delete screen 2000.

Although in the present embodiment, an item for editing icon informationis not displayed on the portal button edit screen 2100 shown in FIG. 21,it is also possible to edit icon information in the edit mode.

In deleting a registered portal button, a portal button to be deleted isselected (pressed) on the portal button edit/delete screen 2000 shown inFIG. 20, and then a delete button 1902 is pressed to start a deletemode. In the following, a description will be given of a case where thedelete button 1902 is pressed after pressing of the registered portalbutton 4.

In the delete mode, a confirmation dialog 2101 shown in FIG. 22 ispopped up on the portal button edit/delete screen 2000. When a cancelbutton 2103 is pressed on the confirmation dialog 2101, operationsperformed after the start of the delete mode are all cancelled, and thedelete mode is terminated. Then, the confirmation dialog 2101 is closed,and the portal button edit/delete screen 2000 is displayed.

On the other hand, when an OK button 2102 is pressed on the confirmationdialog 2101, the selected portal button 4 is deleted, followed by thedelete mode being terminated. After termination of the delete mode, theportal button edit/delete screen 2000 is displayed on which the deletionof the content is reflected.

Next, a process executed for deletion of the portal button 4 will bedescribed in detail with reference to FIG. 23.

FIG. 23 is a flowchart of the process executed for deletion of theportal button 4. In FIG. 23, processing executed by the copy application2303 is shown on the left side, and processing executed by the portalapplication 2307 on the right side.

First, the portal application 2307 detects execution of deletion (i.e.pressing of the OK button 2102) by the user, and acquires from the HDD104 an application ID and an action ID associated with a portal buttonto be deleted (step S2201). Then, the portal application 2307 sends theaction ID to an application associated with the acquired application ID,together with a delete command (step S2202). In the present embodiment,the portal application 2307 instructs the copy application 2303 todelete contents of the action ID of 3.

The copy application 2303 having received the instruction detects in theHDD 104 setting information associated with the action ID and deletesfrom the HDD 104 the action ID and the setting information (which mayinclude icon information) associated with the action ID (step S2203).Thereafter, the copy application 2303 notifies the portal application2307 of completion of the deletion (step S2204).

Upon reception of the notification of completion of the deletion, theportal application 2307 deletes information on the portal button (theportal button number, the application ID, the action ID, the iconinformation, the button information, etc.) (step S2205). Thus, theinformation associated with the portal button is deleted.

Next, a description will be given of error handling in the FIG. 23process. It is also possible to notify the user of occurrence of anerror e.g. by popping up an error dialog on the operating section 112during the occurrence of the error.

If an application ID or an action ID associated with a portal buttoncannot be acquired in the step S2201, or if information associated withan action ID cannot be deleted, the delete processing in the step S2205is not executed.

If communication is not normally performed in the step S2202, the deleteprocessing in the step S2205 is not executed, either.

According to the above-described embodiment, setting information itemseach set via the operating section 112 and action IDs for accessing therespective setting information items are stored in the HDD 104 inassociation with each other. Further, the action IDs and buttoninformation items corresponding to the respective action IDs are storedin the HDD 104 in association with each other. The button informationitems are displayed on the operating section 112, as respective portalbuttons selectable by the user. When the user selects a desired one ofthe portal buttons, an action ID associated with the portal button isdetected in the HDD 104. Further, one of the setting information items,which is associated with the action ID, is acquired from the HDD 104based on the action ID, and the acquired setting information is executedor reflected. This makes it possible to realize easy accessing ofregistered information on any function. Further, since it is notrequired to parse a script or the like, accessing can be performed at ahigh speed. Furthermore, it is possible to provide a user interfacehaving high operability.

Although in the above-described embodiment, the present invention isapplied to an image processing apparatus by way of example, this is notlimitative, but the present invention can also be applied to aninformation processing apparatus, such as a personal computer, or aportable terminal unit.

Aspects of the present invention can also be realized by a computer of asystem or apparatus (or devices such as a CPU or MPU) that reads out andexecutes a program recorded on a memory device to perform the functionsof the above-described embodiment, and by a method, the steps of whichare performed by a computer of a system or apparatus by, for example,reading out and executing a program recorded on a memory device toperform the functions of the above-described embodiment. For thispurpose, the program is provided to the computer for example via anetwork or from a recording medium of various types serving as thememory device (e.g., computer-readable medium).

While the present invention has been described with reference to theembodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited tothe disclosed exemplary embodiments. The scope of the following claimsis to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass allsuch modifications and equivalent structures and functions.

This application claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Application No.2008-287768, filed Nov. 10, 2008, which is hereby incorporated byreference herein in its entirety.

What is claimed is:
 1. An image processing apparatus configured toexecute a plurality of applications, the image processing apparatuscomprising: an operation unit; a display unit; a scanner configured toread an image on an original as image data; a printer configured toperform printing based on the image data; and a sending unit configuredto send the image data outside the image processing apparatus, whereinthe plurality of applications include a copy application configured tocause the printer to perform printing based on the image data, a sendapplication configured to cause the sending unit to send the image data,and a portal application including a function of accessing andreproducing setting information related to processing executed by thecopy application and setting information related to processing executedby the send application, wherein each of the copy application and thesend application is configured to: cause the display unit to display asetting screen via which respective setting information is settable by auser, the respective setting information related to processing executedby the application concerned, send, to the portal application, arespective registration request including a respective application IDfor identifying the application concerned based on reception of a user'sinstruction for registering the respective setting information set viathe setting screen by the operation unit, and store theregistration-instructed respective setting information in associationwith a respective access ID for accessing the registration-instructedrespective setting information, wherein the portal application isconfigured to: store, for each of the copy application and the sendapplication, the respective application ID, included in the respectiveregistration request sent from the respective application, and therespective access ID in association with a respective item of buttoninformation, cause the display unit to display the stored respectiveitems of button information in a user selectable form, and send therespective access ID stored in association with the respective item ofbutton information selected by a user from among the respective items ofbutton information displayed by the display unit, to one of the copyapplication or the send application identified by the respectiveapplication ID stored in association with the selected item of buttoninformation, and wherein the one of the copy application or the sendapplication is configured to cause the display unit to display thesetting screen on which is reflected the respective setting informationstored in association with the respective access ID sent from the portalapplication.
 2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1,wherein the portal application is configured to edit or delete one ormore of the stored respective items of button information.
 3. The imageprocessing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the portalapplication is configured to cause the display unit to display userselectable buttons in association with the stored respective items ofbutton information.
 4. The image processing apparatus according to claim1, further comprising a user authentication unit configured to perform aprocess for user authentication, and wherein the portal application isconfigured to change one or more of the stored respective items ofbutton information according to instruction from a user authenticated bysaid user authentication unit.
 5. The image processing apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein each of the registration-instructedrespective setting information stored by the copy application and thesend application includes settings on the respective application,information input by a user, and an operation flow configured by a user.6. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein one ormore of the stored respective items of button information include abutton name, a comment, icon information, and a group classificationselected by a user.
 7. The image processing apparatus according to claim1, wherein the portal application is configured to, for each of the copyapplication and the send application: issue the respective access IDbased on the respective registration request sent from the respectiveapplication, and send the issued respective access ID to the respectiveapplication as a sending source of the respective registration request,and each of the copy application and the send application is configuredto store the registration-instructed respective setting information inassociation with the respective access ID sent from the portalapplication.
 8. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1,wherein each of the copy application and the send application isconfigured to send, to the portal application, the respectiveregistration request including icon information, and the portalapplication is configured to store, for each of the copy application andthe send application, the icon information included in the respectiveregistration request together with the respective application ID and therespective access ID, in association with the respective item of buttoninformation.
 9. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1,wherein the portal application is configured to: cause the display unitto display a registration screen via which the respective item of buttoninformation for the copy application and the respective item of buttoninformation for the send application are registered, and store, for eachof the copy application and the send application, the respectiveapplication ID and the respective access ID in association with therespective item of button information registered via the registrationscreen.
 10. A method of controlling an image processing apparatusexecuting a plurality of applications and including an operation unit, adisplay unit, a scanner, a printer, and a sending unit, the methodcomprising the steps of: the scanner reading an image on an original asimage data; the printer performing printing based on the image data; thesending unit sending the image data outside the image processingapparatus; a copy application of the plurality of applications causingthe printer to perform printing based on the image data; a sendapplication of the plurality of applications causing the sending unit tosend the image data; a portal application of the plurality ofapplications accessing and reproducing setting information related toprocessing executed by the copy application and setting informationrelated to processing executed by the send application; each of the copyapplication and the send application: causing the display unit todisplay a setting screen via which respective setting information issettable by a user, the respective setting information related toprocessing executed by the application concerned, sending, to the portalapplication, a respective registration request including a respectiveapplication ID for identifying the application concerned based onreception of a user's instruction for registering the respective settinginformation set via the setting screen by the operation unit, andstoring the registration-instructed respective setting information inassociation with a respective access ID for accessing theregistration-instructed respective setting information; the portalapplication: storing, for each of the copy application and the sendapplication, the respective application ID, included in the respectiveregistration request sent from the respective application, and therespective access ID in association with a respective item of buttoninformation, causing the display unit to display the stored respectiveitems of button information in a user selectable form, and sending therespective access ID stored in association with the respective item ofbutton information selected by a user from among the respective items ofbutton information displayed by the display unit, to one of the copyapplication or the send application identified by the respectiveapplication ID stored in association with the selected item of buttoninformation; and the one of the copy application or the send applicationcausing the display unit to display the setting screen on which isreflected the respective setting information stored in association withthe respective access ID sent from the portal application.
 11. Anon-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing acomputer-readable program for causing a computer to execute a method ofcontrolling an image processing apparatus executing a plurality ofapplications and including an operation unit, a display unit, a scanner,a printer, and a sending unit, wherein the method comprises the stepsof: the scanner reading an image on an original as image data; theprinter performing printing based on the image data; the sending unitsending the image data outside the image processing apparatus; a copyapplication of the plurality of applications causing the printer toperform printing based on the image data; a send application of theplurality of applications causing the sending unit to send the imagedata; a portal application of the plurality of applications accessingand reproducing setting information related to processing executed bythe copy application and setting information related to processingexecuted by the send application; each of the copy application and thesend application: causing the display unit to display a setting screenvia which respective setting information is settable by a user, therespective setting information related to processing executed by theapplication concerned, sending, to the portal application, a respectiveregistration request including a respective application ID foridentifying the application concerned based on reception of a user'sinstruction for registering the respective setting information set viathe setting screen by the operation unit, and storing theregistration-instructed respective setting information in associationwith a respective access ID for accessing the registration-instructedrespective setting information; the portal application: storing, foreach of the copy application and the send application, the respectiveapplication ID, included in the respective registration request sentfrom the respective application, and the respective access ID inassociation with a respective item of button information, causing thedisplay unit to display the stored respective items of buttoninformation in a user selectable form, and sending the respective accessID stored in association with the respective item of button informationselected by a user from among the respective items of button informationdisplayed by the display unit, to one of the copy application or thesend application identified by the respective application ID stored inassociation with the selected item of button information; and the one ofthe copy application or the send application causing the display unit todisplay the setting screen on which is reflected the respective settinginformation stored in association with the respective access ID sentfrom the portal application.